Headlight



H. E. DRURY' April 26, 1932..

HEADLIGHT Filed April 30, 1930 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HUGH E. DRURY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO VIL- LIAM H. MCTIGI-IE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTSHEADLIGHT Application filed April 30,

This invention relates to a headlight particularly designed for use onautomobiles but also adapted for many other purposes.

It is the general object of my invention to provide a construction bywhich a headlight may be quickly and easily restored to operativecondition after a filament in the headlight bulb has burned out orbroken.

A further object is to provide a construction by which operativeconditions may be restored without removing the bulb from the headlightor disturbing the focusing thereof.

My invention furtherrelates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved headlight;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation of a portion of theheadlight bulb; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of certain parts.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a portion of a reflecting casing10 in which a bulb 11 is mounted. The bulb 11 is provided with a shankportion 12 fitting into a fibre socket 13 and secured therein by theusual stud 15 and bayonet lock 16. The bulb 11 is of specialconstruction and is provided with a plurality of filaments 20, angularlyspaced apart and all converging on a common support- 21. The support 21also forms one terminal of the bulb and is extended through the shank 12to a stud or contact lnember 22 at the outer end thereof.

A series of contact plates 25 (Fig. 2) are spaced about the periphery ofthe shank 12 and one terminal of each of the filaments 20 is connectedto one of the contact plates 25. A spring-pressed contact plunger(Fig. 1) is mounted in a fibre bushing 32 which is surmounted by a fibrecap 33. 7 Each of the con tact plates 25 is preferably groovedlongitudinally, as indicated at 35 in Fig. 2, and the rounded inner endof the plunger 30 seats itself in the groove 35 of the plate 25 which isoperatively positioned. The plunger 30 1930. Serial No. 448,531.

is connected to a wire 36 forming one sid of a lighting circuit and aconductor 37 forming the other side of the lighting circuit is groundedon the casing 10.

A metal rod 10 is secured in the outer end of the fibre socket 13. Ametal plunger 41 is slidably mounted between the socket 13 and the rodand yieldingly engages the contact 22 at the outer end of the shank 12.A spring 42 actuates the plunger 41 and electrically connects theplunger to the metal rod 40.

A metal cap l5 is threaded on the outer end of the rod 10 and engages aninwardly extending flange 46 at the outer end of a tubular extension 50of the casing 10. A relatively heavy spring 52 is interposed between theouter end of the socket 13 and the flange l6 and is eflective to holdthe cap firmly seat-ed against the flange 46.

A lighting circuit is thus completed from the wire 36 through theplunger 30 to one of the contact plates 25 and filaments 20, and iscontinued through the common sup port 21 to the contact member 22,plunger 11, spring 42, rod 40, cap 45, tubular extension and casing 10to the wire 37.

If this circuit is broken by the burning out or breaking of theparticular filament 20 which is in use, the circuit may be restored bygrasping the cap or nut 45 and turning the socket angularly to bring theplunger 30 in In order to preserve the angular adjustment, the outer endof the tubular extension 50 is provided with a series of cam recesses ornotches 55 (Fig. 3) adapted to receive a cam-lug or projection 56 on thecap 45.

WVhen the cap is turned, the cap and socket will be forced outward,compressing the spring 52 as the projection 56 is moved out of one ofthe recesses 55, but the parts will return to their previous axialrelation as soon as the projection 56 enters the next notch or recess55.

The bulb 11 will thus be given angular advance movements coresponding tothe angular spacing of the several filaments 20 and contact plates 25.In the drawings, I have shown four filaments and contact plates butcontact with another one ofthe contact plates Tim it Will be understoodthat this number may be increased or decreased as desired.

The socket 13 and bulb 11 may be adjusted axially for focusing purposesby turning the nut 45 on the metal rod 40, it being evident thatthespring 52 Will advance the bulb into the reflector 10 as far as ispermitted by the position of the cap or nut 45.

When the bulb is correctly focused, a cot- -ter pin '60 may be insertedthrough openings mentmay be placed in operative position and thelighting circuit may be restored without disturbing the focusing of thebulb and Without the necessity-of removing a lens or other- Wiseobtaining access to the interior of the reflecting casing 10. Aheadlight may thus be restored to operative condition with the leastpossible delay and Without the use of tools or the removalof any part.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notWish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than assetforth in the claims, but What I claim is 1. In a headlight, a casing, a'bulb anguilarly adjustable insaid casing, said bulb having a pluralityof filaments with one terminal of each filament connected to a common:con-

tact and with the other terminal of each filament connected tooneof aseries of separate contacts spaced about the shank-of said bulb and eachformed with alongitudinally extendlng groove, contacting meanscontinuously'engagmg sa1d common contact, and a spring contact plungeryieldingly engaging an operatively positioned separate contact in thelongitudinalgroove thereof to complete a circuit through-2a selectedfilament.

2. A headlight comprising a casing having a tubularextension, a bulbhaving a plurality of separate filaments, a socket for said bulbslidably mounted insaid casing extension and .havinga plurality ofdifferent selective angular operative positions, a cap angularly andaxially movable relative to said casing extension, means to secure saidcap in adjusted :axial and angular relation to said socket,

Whereby said cap is made effective for turning SLldfSOCkBt and bulb todifferent angular positions in said casing extension, contact meansengaging a different bulb filament in each different angular position ofsaid socket and bulb, yielding means to move said cap axiallyinto'engagement With the end of said casing extension, and means :tohold said cap, socket .and bulb as a unit in different selected angularpositions in said casing extension but in a uniform axial position.

3. A headlight comprising a casing having a tubular extension, a bulbhaving a plurality of separate filaments, a socket for said bulbslidably mounted in said casing extension and having a plurality ofdifferent selective angular operative positions, a cap angularly andaxially movable relative to said casing extension, means to secure saidcap in adjustedaxial and angular-relation to said socket, Whereby saidcap is made effective for turning said socket and bulb to differentangular positions insaid casing extension, contact means engaging adifferent bulb filament in each different angular position of saidsocket and bulb, yielding means to move saidcap axially into engagementwith the end of said casing extension, and means to hold said cap,socket and bulb as a unit in different selected angular positions insaid casing extension but in a uniform axial position, said latter meanscomprising a positioning projection and cooperating recesses on adjacentfaces of said cap and casing extension.

In testimony WhereofI have hereunto affixed my signature.

HUGH E. DRURY.

